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Innovative installation allows viewers to see, hear and feel art

24/01/2014
A futuristic installation, which combines fine art with advanced technologies, is set to allow exhibition goers to immerse themselves within a painting, experiencing the textures and sounds of the stormy seascape picture.

Artwork may even help with brain injury rehab

A futuristic installation, which combines fine art with advanced technologies, is set to allow exhibition goers to immerse themselves within a painting, experiencing the textures and sounds of the stormy seascape picture.

The interactive experience, to be unveiled at the Shoreditch Red Gallery on 29 January, comes to life when visitors hold a paintbrush-like robotic (haptic) device. By moving their hand towards the painting they get the feeling of entering the frame and feel the form of the sea and sky within the painting.

At the same time they will also hear the picture, with noises surrounding them in a sound-scape, creating the spatial environment of the painting.  

How does it work?
Into the Frame* The viewer stands within a 3D sound area in front of a painting of the stormy seascape.
* When holding the robotic device, haptic technology allows the viewer to feel the texture of the water and sky (different parts of the seascape will feel different in terms of sounds and depth)
* Realistic sounds will fluidly travel around the visitor via the installation's 360 degree sound design
* The work has interested international experts in rehabilitation robotics

The piece, titled 'Into the Frame', is the culmination of a year-long project created by Middlesex University Creative Directors in Residence Florian Dussopt and Nick Phillips, alongside staff in the University's School of Science and Technology and student Hoang Ha Le, who used advanced technologies and built bespoke software for the piece.  They also collaborated with 3D sound specialist Dave Hunt and artist Paul West for the unique installation.

Middlesex University Creative Director in Residence Florian Dussopt said: "It's been great creating not only an art installation, but also a promising tool for neuro-rehabilitation.  It has potential to help with brain spatial problems, and during the project we published and presented a research paper on this at the International Conference for rehabilitation robotics in the USA."

Fellow Creative Director in Residence Nick Phillips said: "By building a bridge between fine art and the science of haptics and 3D sound we have created a new third dimension of art to allow visitors to explore and feel through touching and listening."  

'Into the Frame' is free to experience at the Red Gallery, 1—3 Rivington Street EC2, from 29 January – 5 February, 12pm—8pm daily

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